Holding doors open for people etc

[Durlston]

Had this discussion at work (oh how the time flies!) and it seems polite manners seem to be diminishing. If you hold a shop door open for someone - it seems mainly young people forget to give any acknowledgement sometimes.

An interesting story I heard was someone staying in the same hotel as the Fulham team last season in an away Europa League match. They held the door open for Clint Dempsey and he didn't say thank you or anything so this bloke said "That's all right!" really slowly, like the end of that football chant - can't remember which one. Anyway, Dempsey looks at this bloke in a really puzzled manner and goes "Huh?" as only an American can. So I think it's worth trying the next time there's silence for being kind to someone. Same at Gatwick Airport with people struggling with luggage off a train or mothers with prams having to go up steps - it's nice to help people!

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I always like to do this old one when someone has just ignored me holding the door open for them:

Me: "Sorry what was that"

Them: "Err.. I didn't say anything"

Me: "Oh sorry, thought you said thank you"

Never fails to put a rather embarrassed look on their faces

 

[sam86]

There was a thread on this a month or so ago.

(just letting you know rather than shouting FIXTURES, 'cos f*** knows what you'd search for)

 

[Durlston]

Good 'un.

As the old saying goes "Politeness costs nothing".

"Neither does a punch on the nose" is usually the reply.

 

[Durlston]

Sorry, that was to McShane!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I always open doors for people, offer a seat to a lady or old person (or both!) on the tube and strategically hang about to offer help for those with luggage going up the stairs.

I went to a very old fashioned prep-school and that sort of behaviour was drilled into me (not literally!).

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

I always open doors for people, offer a seat to a lady or old person (or both!) on the tube and strategically hang about to offer help for those with luggage going up the stairs.

I went to a very old fashioned prep-school and that sort of behaviour was drilled into me (not literally!).

I find it awkward to know who to give up my seat for without seeming too patronising, so usually end up standing on busy trains or tubes to avoid it!

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I find it awkward to know who to give up my seat for without seeming too patronising, so usually end up standing on busy trains or tubes to avoid it!

That is my first plan of action. If you swarm in then avoid taking the few seats on offer. If there is one left over, then take it, but be ready to offer for someone at the next stop.

I think most passengers are happy to take a seat and wouldn't be offended.

 

[Insel affe]

I open doors for people as I was taught it is good manners, However it is not just young people plenty of old timers have no manners. If no one says thank you I tend to say "Your welcome" and they just look at you with a blank dull expression thats when i spit in there eye and call them a drain on me the tax payer.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I recently held the door open a couple of time to kids about 8 years old and was presently surprised they both politely said thank you.

I think it's the middle aged grumpy f*ckers that tend to be on the large side that have lost there manners and they also push into queue's and jump lanes at roundabouts you know the ones....

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Defintely don't think it is age related

 

[Napper]

not an age thing. Scum have no manners from young to old

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I don't know why anyone would want to sit down on the tube or a bus. It's not pleasant being in such close proximity to other members of the public. I always stand, even when there are plenty of seats available.

Rush hour, a seat is a god send. You have far more (not a great deal) personal space than standing in the entrance.

What does f*** me off is people that are not willing to move into the space between the rows of seats. Oh and people that give you are heinous death stare if you happen to brush them or accidentally step on their foot, when there is more space in a can of sardines.

 

[simon swagbag]

If I'm in a cafe or take-away I'll always start my sentence with "please may I have...." Staff appreciate that sort of politeness, it makes a pleasant change, so they tell me. My dad's always been red hot on manners & the whole chivalry thing, I guess now I'm a dad too I'm always thinking about setting a good example, treating others as you'd like to be treated etc.

"Please may I have...." doesn't always go down so well in a pub though, you get some funny looks.

 

[Skint Gull]

I don't know why anyone would want to sit down on the tube or a bus. It's not pleasant being in such close proximity to other members of the public. I always stand, even when there are plenty of seats available.

NSC needs a 'like' button

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I don't know why anyone would want to sit down on the tube or a bus. It's not pleasant being in such close proximity to other members of the public. I always stand, even when there are plenty of seats available.

Sorry, harking back to this one. I'll stand if there is an open 'well' by both doors as opposed to sitting next to randoms.

I guess it is a matter of judgment. Four is OK. Each one occupies the fourth of the cabin. Five is fine. Six is pushing it. Seven plus and it is getting complicated.

What I do detest is when I pass through Gatwick and people take up three spaces with their luggage. It won't ruin my day if I don't get a seat, but it is presumptuous that their luggage deserves that space more than the person at the next stop.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

If I'm in a cafe or take-away I'll always start my sentence with "please may I have...." Staff appreciate that sort of politeness, it makes a pleasant change, so they tell me. My dad's always been red hot on manners & the whole chivalry thing, I guess now I'm a dad too I'm always thinking about setting a good example, treating others as you'd like to be treated etc.

"Please may I have...." doesn't always go down so well in a pub though, you get some funny looks.

You've just made me think of the line "Can I get a....". :cringe:

 

[Barrel of Fun]

You've just made me think of the line "Can I get a....". :cringe:

Oh. My best-female-friend does that and it drives me up the wall.

 

[simon swagbag]

I've got a story relating to the "holding doors open" thing as well.

You know the doors at the entrance to Lewes station? Well if you don't they're big heavy things. Anyway, I'm going in just as a train load of opera fans are coming out. They must be on their way to Glynedbourne in their dicky-bows & fancy hats & that. So I hold the door open, expecting one or two to come through before someone steps aside to let me in.
But no. No one stops. There must have been forty of them atleast, single-filing it through the one door that I'm holding open. And not one of them, not one fucker says thank you.